New School Idea Has Old Roots

Palatine School To Have Kindergarten-8th Grade Classes

December 13, 1991|By Martha Russis.

The board of Community Consolidated School District 15 has approved funding to link an elementary and junior high school to form a tradititional elementary school offering classes from kindergarten through 8th grade.

The schools, Churchill Elementary and Winston Park Junior High in Palatine are just 100 yards apart near Palatine and Rohlwing Roads.

Such schools are standard in Chicago. ``It works,`` said Kim Knauer, spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education.

Knauer said that in addition to Chicago, smaller rural areas also frequently offer kindergarten through 8th grade educations in a single school. But such a school will be the first of its kind in District 15.

Plans involve remodeling the schools into three wings, one for kindergarten through 3rd grade, one for 4th through 6th grade, and one for 7th and 8th graders. Children in each wing will have regular classes with their peers and gather down the hall in rooms for group activities combining students of all ages.

The proximity of different age groups also will strengthen a new program for junior high students to tutor youngsters at Churchill.

``We`ve seen youngsters who were hard to deal with in 6th grade come over here later and put their arm around a youngster and help them read,`` said Ellen Currins, Churchill`s principal.

``Traditionally, junior high is a hard age, and we feel it will definitely boost their self-esteem to act as role models to younger children.``

Organizers of the project are anticipating that 105 computers will be available in labs scattered through the building, and the library will become a branch of the Palatine Public Library.

``We have one computer for every three classrooms now, so the kids are just excited about the whole thing because of all the things they`ve been told they`re going to be able to do,`` said Jessie Kalinowski, the parent of a Churchill 5th grader.

A central area in the school will house a multi-purpose room for art, music and physical education areas.

The idea resulted from six months of planning by a 45-member committee of parents, district officials, and community members.

Aside from talk, the district also pledged financial backing by approving $10 million in bonds Wednesday, part of which will pay for the first phase of the $8.4 million project.